Effective July 1, 2014, West Virginia updated its Uniform Law On Notarial Acts. This update to the legislation does the following:
- reduces a notary’s commission from ten (10) years to five (5) years
- requires a $1,000 surety bond or its equivalent in professional insurance
- raises the amount a notary can charge from $2 to $5 per notarial act
- allows for the notarization of electronic documents (e-notarization)
The surety bond requirement is a new step in the application process for West Virginia notaries, as no bond requirement was in place prior to the July 1 update. By posting a notary surety bond, notaries pledge to act ethically and lawfully while on the job and adhere to all terms set in the Code of West Virginia. These bonds remain in effect for 5 years from the date of issuance.
The process to become a notary public in West Virginia starts with the completion of the Application for Appointment as a Notary Public form.
The experts at SuretyBonds.com are familiar with this new bond requirement and have the bond form on file, which will help to expedite the bonding process. We can issue these bonds instantly without the need of a credit check, which means that all applicants will pay the same low rate for their West Virginia notary bond and can get bonded in just 5 minutes. Fill out an online bond request or call 1 (800) 308-4358 to get bonded now!